Mindfulness-based help for people on methadone for opioid use
Official title: Implementation and Effectiveness of Mindfulness Oriented Recovery Enhancement as an Adjunct to Methadone Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
Funded at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · NIH-11392281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A program tests an 8-week mindfulness-based therapy added to methadone treatment to help people with opioid use disorder reduce cravings, pain, and emotional distress.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $639,690 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA056537-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11392281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with opioid use disorder receiving methadone treatment who are willing to participate in an 8-week mindfulness-based program.
✕Less likely to help
People not open to group therapy or mindfulness practices might not benefit, and some could experience short-term discomfort from exploring emotions.
What this research studies
If you are on methadone for opioid use disorder, this project tests a mindfulness-based program called MORE added to your treatment. The study builds on prior work showing MORE may lessen cravings, pain, depression, and anxiety, and it explores how to make this approach work well in methadone clinics. Participants would join group sessions over 8 weeks and be compared to standard care to see if MORE improves outcomes. Researchers will measure opioid use, cravings, mood, and pain to understand the potential benefits and how to implement the program in real clinics.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, MORE could help people on methadone stay in treatment longer and reduce opioid use and distress.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have shown MORE can reduce drug use, cravings, and distress in various healthcare settings, with initial feasibility in MT clinics.
Where this research is happening
-
Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
Newark, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cooperman, Nina — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Cooperman, Nina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Mindfulness support added to methadone for opioid recovery
This project adds an 8-week mindfulness and skills group to methadone care to help people with opioid use disorder reduce craving, pain, and emotional distress.
-
Using mindfulness to improve treatment for opioid use disorder in those with childhood trauma
This study is looking at how mindfulness training delivered through technology can help people with opioid use disorder who have gone through childhood trauma, aiming to improve their emotional well-being and support their recovery journey.
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This study is looking to help people with opioid use disorder by using mindfulness techniques and text messages to remind them about their medication and support them in managing cravings, making it easier for them to stick with their treatment.
-
Using mindfulness techniques to improve methadone treatment for opioid addiction
This study is looking at how a special 8-week group therapy called Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement can help people with opioid use disorder who are in methadone treatment by teaching them skills to better handle pain and cravings, making their recovery journey easier and more successful.
-
Systems analysis to improve opioid use disorder care after jail release (SAIA-MOUD)
A program to help people with opioid use disorder get better, faster, and safer care after they leave jail.
-
Precise epigenetic drugs for opioid addiction
A tiny, targeted drug approach is being developed to help people with opioid use disorder by rewriting the epigenetic signals in the brain to reduce cravings and relapse risk.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.